IRVING, Texas (AP) — Ryan Palmer shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Byron Nelson Championship, a year after losing a playoff to Keegan Bradley in the event.
Marc Leishman and Alex Cejka were a stroke back. Matt Kuchar, coming off a victory Sunday in The Players Championship last weekend, topped a group of seven players at 66.
Last year, Palmer birdied the 72nd hole to force a playoff, then hit his approach on the first extra hole into the greenside water and lost to Bradley, who opened his title defense with a 67.
Phil Mickelson, back at the Nelson for the first time in five years, shot 70 with two bogeys and two birdies.
